Related Links

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The San Antonio Spurs announced Friday they have re-signed former Saint Mary's College guard Patrick Mills, who spent last season with the club.

"Patty came in and impressed us from the moment he joined us last season," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. "He gives us some added depth at the guard position and we are excited to have him back in San Antonio."

Mills, a 6-0, 185-pound product out of Saint Mary's, was signed by the Spurs this past season on March 27. In 16 games (three starts), Mills averaged 10.3 points, 2.4 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16.3 minutes. In his final two games of the regular season Mills set career-highs for points and assists. On April 25, he registered a career-best 27 points at Phoenix only to surpass that the following night in Golden State scoring 34 points and handing out a career-high 12 assists.

''I said from the beginning that this process needed to be done and my goal was to be back in San Antonio,'' Mills told The Sunday Age. "I love it at San Antonio and for it to be official now means I can go over to London with a clear head and just focus.

"Everyone knew I wanted it sorted out early and it's been great ... you don't want to worry about anything but the Boomers when you get into the Olympic village. Especially with the role I have now as a leader, the Boomers are my focus.''

A native of Australia, Mills spent part of the 2011-12 season playing overseas in his home country and China. Originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Mills appeared in 74 games in Portland, averaging 5.1 points and 1.5 assists in 11.1 minutes.

Mills, along with Saint Mary's rising senior guard Matthew Dellavedova, is a member of the Australian National Team which qualified for the 2012 Olympics.